Geranium plant &#34;Cassandra&#34;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new distinct cultivar of geranium, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized as being particularly well adapted to both commercial greenhouse production and garden performance, and having more fully double florets, lighter flower color and more compact plant habit when compared to the geranium cultivar &#34;Veronica&#34;.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of geraniumPelargonium×hortorum called "Cassandra". The cultivar is particularlywell adapted to both commercial greenhouse production and gardenperformance. The novel characteristics of the cultivar are more fullydouble florets, lighter floral color, and more compact plant habit whencompared to the cultivar geranium "Veronica". The cultivar is furthercharacterized by unique biochemical fingerprint profiles.

The cultivar was developed from an organized, scientifically designedbreeding program carried out at the Department of Horticulture, ThePennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 andspecifically resulted from selection from the self-pollinated progeny ofthe geranium cultivar "Honseler's Glorie Lila", which is probably anasexual selection from "Purpurball". The cultivar was asexuallypropagated by cuttings and the reproductions ran true.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates in color the cultivar including foliage and flowers.

FIG. 2 illustrates the anthocyanin profile obtained from HPLC.Quantitative values are found in the tables. Analyses included a singlepeak that represented both pelargonidin and petunidin 3,5-diglucosides.Corrections were made in accompanying tables.

Peak No.

1. Delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside

2. Cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside

3. Pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside

4. Peonidin 3,5-diglucoside

5. Malvidin 3,5-diglucoside

FIG. 3 illustrates the flavonol profile obtained from HPLC. Quantitativevalues are found in the tables.

Peak No.

1. Quercetin 3-rhamnosylgalactoside

2. Quercetin 3-rutinoside

3. Quercetin 3-galactoside

4. Quercetin 3-glucoside

5. Kaempferol 3-rhamnosylgalactoside

6. Kaempferol 3-galactoside

7. Kaempferol 3-rutinoside

8. Kaempferol 3-glucoside; Kaempferol 7-glucoside; Quercetin3-rhamnoside

9. Kaempferol 3-xyloside

10. Kaempferol 3-arabinoside

11. Kaempferol 3-rhamnoside

With reference to the detailed description of the cultivar whichfollows, the test plant was grown in full sun under glass, 60° F. nightand 75° F. sunny days. Soilless medium was fertilized constantly with300 ppm N-K. Color readings were taken under cool white fluorescentlamps at 220 foot-candles and color identification was by reference toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts except where common termsof color definition are employed.

The Plant

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum.

Tradename.--#725-(80-208-1)="Cassandra".

Form: Semi-dwarf, free basal branching; comparatively compact growth;flowers relatively close to foliage; freer flowering; earlier flowering;significantly improved form in this color.

Height: 21.0-26.0 cm.

Growth: Faster than standard; leaves smaller than standard; shortinternodes; free branching from base; leaves zoned.

Strength: Stands upright without artificial support.

Leaves:

Size.--8.0-12.0 cm.

Shape.--Reniform, variously lobed.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Pubescent, dull; veins prominent and recessed.

Color.--Top: Dark zone band, Fan 3, green group 143-A (R.H.S.C.C.); Restof leaf, Fan 3, yellow-green group, 144-A (R.H.S.C.C.). Bottom: Fan 3,green group, 143-C (R.H.S.C.C.).

Ribs and veins.--Palmate.

Petioles: Fan 3, green group, 143-C (R.H.S.C.C.).

Stem:

Color.--Fan 3, green group, 143-C (R.H.S.C.C.).

Internodes.--1.0-2.0 cm.

The Bud

Shape: Slight crook to petiole just below bud; hemispherical.

Size: 2.0-3.0 cm diameter.

Inflorescence

Blooming habit: Continuous, upright, double, non-shatteringhemispherical.

Size: 10.0-12.0 cm.

Borne: Umbel; florets on pedicel; pedicels on peduncle.

Florets:

Form.--Petals twisted, upright, irregular and variable, double.

Color.--Top: Upper: Fan 2, red-purple group, 66-B (R.H.S.C.C.). Middle:Fan 2, red-purple group, 57-B (R.H.S.C.C.). Base: Fan 1, red group, 41-C(R.H.S.C.C.). Bottom: Fan 1, red group, 55-B (R.H.S.C.C.).

Petals.--11-14, including petaloids.

Size.--4.0 cm.

Texture and appearance.--Irregular-surfaced; dull.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--Not distinguishable from petals.

Shape.--Not distinguishable from petals.

Color.--Not distinguishable from petals.

Pedicel:

Length.--4.0-5.0 cm.

Color.--Fan 3, green group, 143-C (R.H.S.C.C.).

Peduncle: Arises from node; opposed to leaf petiole.

Length.--11.0-15.0 cm.

Color.--Fan 3, yellow-green group, 143-C (R.H.S.C.C.).

Persistence: Non-shattering, persistent

Disease resistance: Not known; favorable in outdoor trials

Lasting quality: Excellent, 3 weeks or longer

Reproductive Organs

Stamens: 4.

Anthers.--Some sterile, some fertile; tan to purple in color.

Filaments.--Flattened, ribbon shape; white at bottom, reddish tinge attop; variable in length, 4.0-8.0 mm.

Pollen.--Gold color.

Pistils:

Number.--1, with 5-parted stigma, reflexed.

Length.--1.0 cm.

Stigma.--5- or 6-parted, reddish in color.

Style.--1:3.0 mm length; light pink.

Ovaries: 1: green, very pubescent; 5- or 6- lobed, 5.0 mm in length.

Fruit: None observed.

Biochemical Profiles

In recent years, biochemical analysis has played an increasing role inplant systematics and taxonomy. In order to further characterize thecultivar, flavonols and anthocyanins were extracted from the florets andsubjected to analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).Background information supporting the validity of the HPLC technique canbe found in an article by Asen & Griesbach ("High Pressure LiquidChromatographic Analysis of Flavonoids in Geranium Florets as an Adjunctfor Cultivar Identification", S. Asen and R. Griesbach, J. Amer. Soc.Hort. Sci. 108(5):845-850 (1983)), the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. Briefly, the method for performing theanalysis was carried out as follows:

Flavonoid extraction. The sample size for flavonoid identificationconsisted of the petals from six florets just after anthesis. Threedifferent samples were collected from each cultivar and handledseparately for analysis. The petals were weighed, ground in 20 ml of 1%HCl-MeOH with a mortar and pestle, filtered through one layer of Whatman#1 filter paper, and washed with 1% HCl-MeOH. The volume was adjusted to90 ml and 2-15 ml aliquots were removed for the analysis and handledseparately. Each aliquot was taken to dryness at 40° C. in vacuo. Alltraces of HCl were removed by azeotropic distillation with MeOH. One ofthe dried extracts was reconstituted in 2 ml of 1% HCl-MeOH and was usedfor anthocyanin analysis. The other was reconstituted in 2 ml of MeOHand was used for flavonol analysis. Each sample was stored at -34° C.until analyzed.

HPLC. Samples were analyzed on a Waters High Performance LiquidChromatograph equipped with an automatic injection system (Waters Assoc.Wisp 71OA), dual pumps (Waters Assoc. Model 6000A), solvent programmer(Waters Assoc. Model 600), data module (Waters Assoc.), variablewavelength detector (Waters Assoc. Model 480), and a C₁₈ column (25cm×0.46 cm and 5 μm particle size, Supelco).

Most of the flavonol compounds were separated by a linear gradient of 8%to 23% pump B over 55 min (pump A=1% triethylamine buffered to pH 3.0with H₃ PO₄ (TEAP); pump B=CH₃ CN) at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min and achart speed of 0.5 cm/min. Detection was at 340 nm.

The anthocyanins were resolved by a linear gradient of 30% to 50% pump Bover 40 min (pump A=1.5% H₃ PO₄ ; pump B=20% HOAc+25% CH₃ CN+55% of 1.5%H₃ PO₄) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and a chart speed of 0.5 cm/min.Detection was at 546 nm utilizing a fixed wavelength detector.

The flavonoids were quantified by injecting standards and comparingtheir peak areas with those from the plant samples. The results areexpressed as μg of flavonoid/g fresh weight of plant material.

Results

Chromatographic profiles for anthocyanins and flavonols are presented inFIGS. 2 and 3, respectively; quantification of these profiles bycomparison to standards is presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

The anthocyanins petunidin and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside were notresolved by the solvent system used. Past research has shown onlynegligible amounts of petunidin 3,5-diglucoside to be present ingeranium florets compared to pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside. In light ofthis, the peak corresponding to petunidin and pelargonidin3,5-diglucoside was quantified as palargonidin 3,5-diglucoside.

Kaempferol 3-rhamnoside could not be quantitated for several cultivarsand is designated as ND (not determined). The chromatograms showed asmall, wide peak in the region of elution for this compound. If asubstantial amount of this compound were present, a distinct peakappeared but minute quantities, if present, were masked.

Barriers to quantitation of several flavonols existed. Kaempferol3-glucoside, kaempferol 7-glucoside, and quercetin 3-rhamnoside all hadthe same retention time under these conditions. If these compounds areneeded to distinguish between cultivars, they would have to be separatedby other solvents or column types. Quercetin 3-xyloside appeared inseveral of the comparisons, but standards were not available to quantifythis compound.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Anthocyanin concentration in petals of geranium florets                       μg anthocyanidin 3,5-diglucoside/g fresh wt.                                      Del-              Pelar-       Mal-                                    Cultivar                                                                             phinidin Cyanidin gonidin                                                                             Peonidin                                                                             vidin                                                                              Total                              ______________________________________                                        725    19       32       576   509    489  1625                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Flavonol concentration in petals of geranium florets                          ______________________________________                                        μg/g fresh wt.                                                                    Qu3-.sup.z                                                                            Qu3-   Qu3- Qu3-  Km3-  Km3-  Km3-                             Cultivar                                                                             rhagal  rut    gal  glu   rhagal                                                                              gal   rut                              ______________________________________                                        725    t.sup.y 25     --.sup.w                                                                           t     147   26    815                              ______________________________________                                                       μg/g fresh wt.                                                               Km3-    Km3-    Km3-                                                   Cultivar                                                                             xyl     arab    rha   Total                                  ______________________________________                                                  725    18      44      122   1207                                   ______________________________________                                         .sup.z Abbreviations: Km = Kaempferol; Qu = Quercetin; arab = arabinoside     gal = galactoside; glu = glucoside; rha = rhamnoside; rhagal =                rhamnosylgalactoside; rut = rutinoside; xyl = xyloside.                       .sup.y t = trace < 10 μg.                                                  .sup.w -- = not detected.                                                

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct cultivar of geranium,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized as beingparticularly well adapted to both commercial greenhouse production andgarden performance, and having more fully double florets, lighter flowercolor and more compact plant habit when compared to the geraniumcultivar "Veronica".